Kitty Felde

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Many Americans will have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act as of Jan. 1. But it's been a long fight, and while “Obamacare” dominated this year's vote schedule in the House of Representatives, the battle may not yet be over.

The Affordable Care Act wasn’t on the radar screen of most Americans until October, when the federal website crashed and burned. But all year long, the health care law was on the "things to do list" for the House of Representatives.

Nearly every week, House Speaker John Boehner announced another vote to end the health care law, more than three dozen in all — votes that passed the GOP-led House and went nowhere in the Democratic-led Senate.

Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman of Los Angeles compares the GOP passion about the Affordable Care Act to "going after the great white whale from 'Moby Dick.'”

Waxman was an architect of the health care law. He calls the government website problems “inexcusable” and the bungled rollout “a backwards step.” Nevertheless, he says, "when the dust settles, most people are going to be happy with this law."

He adds that there will also be some unhappy people. And that likely means more House votes in 2014 to repeal Obamacare.

Previously in Represent!

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